I used to dream about being famous. My writing was going to make that happen. I believed that the publishers would love my book; the world would love my book; it would be made into a movie; I would buy a castle in England…. That didn’t happen. Thirteen-year-old Vibeke grew up. Every rejection from an agent or publisher prompted another […]
Happy Boy and Sassy Girl are best friends. They have been since the day they met. When Mommy and Daddy brought Sassy Girl home from the hospital, Happy Boy couldn’t stop talking about her—in his unintelligible, 1 1/2-year-old way. Of course, she couldn’t do much at that age. Happy Boy could hardly wait until she was big enough to play. […]
Flavia de Luce. I first met her in 2011. She reminded me of myself at her age—a girl too smart for her own good. She made me laugh out loud with her quirks and unabashed self-praise. Sometimes wise beyond her years and sometimes every bit an 11-year-old girl, her way of looking at the world was a refreshing change. Years […]
Growing up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have always believed in God. I attended Primary, was baptized at age 8, and advanced into the youth program. I always felt that it was right. But my parents and leaders seemed to see a faith in me that I didn’t quite see myself. Eventually, I knew that […]